March 16, 2017

HANNAH’S PRAYER As Easter season is approaching us, I am reminded again of God’s sacrifice for

me on the cross and how his promises are always the best for me despite

troubled waters. Have you ever prayed to the Lord asking for a specific blessing but seem to get no answers? Well, Hannah from 1 Samuel was in this position. While her husband loved her more than the second wife, Hannah was often judged, ridiculed, and surpassed by other women because she did not have the ability to conceive a son. Let’s dive into her story.

1 Samuel 1:6-7: “Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.”

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March 16, 2017

Now we can definitely relate to Hannah’s emotions when our friends, classmates, ad co-workers pinpoint our weakness. When others shine a spotlight on our flaws, we can be easily discouraged and beaten down in Satan’s misery. Even Hannah’s husband, Elkanah would try to comfort her by saying “Hannah why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons (verse 8).” Sometimes our outward projections to the world means more than anything to us, including forgetting that ultimately, everything we possess is for the glory of our Lord Jesus. We live daily to honor Him with our talents and gifts. The Lord brings rough patches in our lives to help us grow closer to him and be a gentle reminder that He is always faithful to us.

Feeling tired from sorrow and shame, Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer and prayed: “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman. May your servant find favor in your eyes. (verse 15-18).” After this prayer, Hannah left to go eat her dinner and her face was no longer downcast. This was the

turning point in Hannah’s faith as she realized that she was living for herself rather than the Lord. The Lord is good to all who honors Him and soon gave Hannah a son, named Samuel, which is one of the greatest prophets in the Bible.

Hannah did not keep Samuel for herself and dedicated her son to the Lord: “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always” (verse 21). At the end of this chapter, Hannah has realized that Samuel was a treasure that the Lord has blessed her with and the only, best thing to do is to have Samuel grow up in the house of the Lord.

The last few words that Hannah speaks in this chapter truly reflects the joy and lesson she has learned: “Pardon me, my Lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord” (verse 26-28).

So brothers and sisters, let’s all reflect on our unanswered prayers and worries to make sure that the ultimate result of these requests is to honor the Lord. It is hard to give everything up to the Lord in other’s eyes who may discourage us, but the Lord holds priceless treasures for us that will ever surpass the judgement of ourselves in other’s eyes. We can learn from Hannah’s prayer that how wonderful is that no one can take away our heavenly father’s boundless love for each of us! What is your prayer today?

“WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD, BE HAPPY; BUT WHEN TIMES ARE BAD, CONSIDER THIS: GOD HAS MADE THE ONE AS WELL AS THE OTHER. THEREFORE, NO ONE CAN DISCOVER ANYTHING ABOUT

THEIR FUTURE.”

- ECCLESIASTES 7:14

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